Microporous organic polymers with acetal linkages: synthesis, characterization, and gas sorption properties

A series of microporous organic polymers with acetal-linkages were synthesized through the condensation of multi-formyl-containing monomers with pentaerythritol, catalyzed by p-toluenesulfonic acid. This easily realized archetypal reaction has high yields and the commercially available starting materials, catalysts, and solvents make this condensation display great advantages over other methods for the construction of microporous organic polymers. The FT-IR and solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy confirm the formation of the acetal-linkages in the obtained polymers. The highest Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of these five microporous polymers is approaching 1000 m2 g−1. Moreover, their hydrogen and carbon dioxide uptake are also investigated. Generally, we provided a versatile method to prepare porous organic polymers efficiently with promising applications in gas adsorption.